IQAS ΑCCREDITATION OF D.U.Th

An Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) is formulated and implemented in each Higher Education Institution and must cover the entire range of the Institution’s functions and activities.

In order to ensure and continuously improve the quality of the educational and research work of each institution, as well as the effective operation and performance of its services, the internal quality assurance system (QAS) shall comply with the corresponding quality standard of the Authority, which is harmonised with the principles of quality management and international practices, in particular those of the European Higher Education Area (ESG, Part A). In each HEI, the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) is responsible for the organisation and implementation of the internal quality assurance system.

The IQAS shall be periodically certified by HAHE. The general criteria of the process include:

  • the establishment of clear and defined objectives for ensuring and continuously improving the quality of the institution’s curricula, research and support services;
  • the policy planning process, effective organisation and decision-making process for continuous quality improvement;
  • the process of implementing the policy for continuous quality improvement;
  • documented quality improvement.

Re-accreditation of IQAS (12-13/05/2025)

 

The Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) has completed the re-accreditation process of the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS-DUTH) of the Institution, with the award of the best rating “Full Compliance” by the competent Evaluation and Accreditation Council of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE).

The evaluation was carried out in person in Komotini on 12 and 13 May 2025 by the External Evaluation and Accreditation Committee (EEAC), with the participation of five members from the HAHE’s Register of Experts. During its visit, the (EEAC) had the opportunity to meet with the Rectorial Authorities, faculty members, administrative and research staff, students, alumni and representatives of the local community, as well as to tour academic and research facilities on campus.

According to the final evaluation report, DUTH fully complies with the seven thematic modules of the National Accreditation Standard.

The process was coordinated and decisively supported by the MODIP of DUTH, which is the institutional and operational core of the development of the IQAS, in close cooperation with the Administration, the Internal Evaluation Groups of the Departments and the Strategic Planning Committee. An important contribution was made by members of the teaching and administrative staff, as well as students, alumni and representatives of social and productive stakeholders who participated in the on-site meetings with the EEAC.

The final report also includes constructive recommendations, including on supporting inclusiveness and a culture of quality – areas in which the Foundation has already initiated actions to strengthen.

According to the re-accreditation decision, the duration of the accreditation of DUTH’s IQAS is set at five years, from 08/07/2025 to 07/07/2030.

 

Relevant documents:

1st IQAS Accreditation (12-18/11/2018)

 

At the Democritus University of Thrace the accreditation of the Internal Quality Assurance System was carried out for the first time by A.D.I.P. (now the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education – HAHE) and was an external evaluation process, based on specific, predefined, internationally accepted and, published in advance, quantitative and qualitative criteria and indicators, harmonized with the Principles and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area.

The accreditation process was carried out during the period from 12 to 18 November 2018 by a five-member committee. MODIP, in collaboration with officials of A.D.I.P. (now HAHE) and the Senior Management of the Institution, oversaw the organization of the visit of the members of the Accreditation Committee. More specifically, he was responsible for the preparation of the programme of the on-site visit, the supervision of its compliance as well as the immediate provision of additional information requested by the members of the Accreditation Committee during their stay in Komotini.

Initially, the validity period of the IQAS accreditation was set for the period from 09/01/2019 to 08/01/2023, followed by a revised accreditation decision, which set the validity period at five years (until 08/01/2024) and finally another decision to extend the validity of the IQAS accreditation until 30/04/2024.

 

Relevant documents:

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